In each of the last nine seasons, Neal has paved the way for a 1,000-yard back - Tomlinson, Corey Dillon, Eddie George, Warrick Dunn and Adrian Murrell - yet he himself has never run for more than 175 yards in a season.

As the Chargers head into Sunday's game at Indianapolis, as important a regular-season game as they have had in years, they will be leaning heavily on Neal to help get Tomlinson rolling.</blockquote>